Cinema is a powerful medium for conveying information. A well-made film addressing a taboo subject can sow seeds of change and initiate talks that will hopefully result in a positive outcome. Mental illness is one of those stigmatised topics that desperately needs to be discussed more openly and without shame. We don't profess to be therapists, but we do have one piece of free advice for you—It's okay not to be okay; don't be too hard on yourself. However, it is not sensible to continue to be not okay. Now we'll allow these films from Hollywood and Bollywood that accurately portray mental health issues to speak for themselves.
1. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, Netflix
This film follows Charlie (Logan Lerman), a socially inept adolescent who begins high school as an alienated and anxious kid. However, as he becomes friends with Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller), things start to look better for him. Until he needs to leave to go to college, his pals assist him in bringing some sense of serenity to his inner turmoil. We follow Charlie's mental health journey throughout the film, which includes his stint in a psychiatric hospital and his childhood trauma. This video is gritty and beautifully explores mental health through a coming-of-age story.
2. A Beautiful Mind, Amazon Prime Video
A Beautiful Mind is a biopic directed by Ron Howard and based on the genius mathematician and Nobel Prize winner John Nash (Russel Crowe). Nash's progressive onset of paranoid schizophrenia is depicted in the film, as is his response to it. This film is not only dramatic and uplifting, but it also portrays Nash as a nice human being, in contrast to many other characters having schizophrenia. As you see the world through John's eyes, the plot draws you in and makes you feel empathic.
3. Girl, Interrupted, Netflix
Susanna Kaysen's memoir of the same name is the inspiration for this film. Kaysen, played by Winona Ryder, is the protagonist of the plot. Kaysen was committed to a psychiatric institution in the 1960s after having a nervous breakdown and overdosing at the age of 18. She quickly becomes friends with other young ladies who have backgrounds and experiences similar to her own, and she develops a strong friendship with Lisa (Angelina Jolie). Although there are explicit depictions of self-harm in this video, it is honest and very authentic.
4. Dear Zindagi, Netflix
This Bollywood film, directed by Gauri Shinde, is about a cynical and temperamental cinematographer named Kaira (Alia Bhatt). She goes through a difficult period in her life and returns to live with her parents, with whom she has a strained relationship. She meets Dr Jehangir (Shah Rukh Khan), a free-spirited therapist who helps her gain a fresh perspective on life, after many sleepless nights, worry, and miserable days. This film is significant because it normalises therapy as a viable choice for dealing with life's emotional ups and downs.
5. Taare Zameen Par, Netflix
Dyslexia is addressed in this film. The father is a strict authority figure who expects his children to match his idealistic standards. The prodigal son and the protagonist – Ishaan (Darsheel Safary) – are frequently contrasted. The father is adamant that there is no underlying issue other than a misdemeanour and the normal ‘not wanting to work hard and only want to play' phase.
As a disciplinary measure, Ishaan is sent to a boarding school, which does not go well. The art teacher (Aamir Khan) repeatedly shatters the father's hubris, causing him to realise that he needs to improve as a parent and accept his children for who they are. It demonstrates how a child who has trouble tying his shoelaces can be an exceptional painter. Rather than focusing primarily on academics, these youngsters should be encouraged to utilise their other qualities and talents.
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